Gas and oil separator



Oct 9 B. NEILL GAS AND OIL SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1922 2 Sheets-Shee I y s..

A K l 1"" 4 ,BERT/PAM /VE/L L..

Oct. 21

B. NEILL GAS AND OIL sEPARAToR 2 Sheets-Sheet.

Filled oct. 12, 192:2.

UHIDODBD Dom ODUJUGH) o ODMDDQ Patented Oct. 21, 1924.`

BERTRAM NEILL, OF NORWALK, CALIFORNIA.

GAS AND OIL SEPARATOR.

Application filed October 12, 1922. Serial No. 594,181.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTRAM NEILL, a citizen of the United States, residing lat Norwalk, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas and Oil Separatore, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to apparatus for the automatic and continuous separation of water and sand, and gas and oil as the raw product comes 'from the oil well.

It is an object of the invention to provide an extremely simple, substantial and practical apparatus operative to handle a large volume of crude oil and well product, and to provide a structure capable of being manufactured in comparatively small sizes relative 4to the capacity thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oil and gas separator having, in combination, telescoping means to facilitate the removal of vaporous oil product from the drier and lighter gases.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oil and gas separator having independently operative oil and gas outlet valves and to provide means for automatically holding the valves each in open position concurrently. In this connection, it is also an object to provide an automatically acting means for closing the gas outlet valve upon accumulation of an excess of oil in the apparatus without a'ecting the position of the open oil outlet valve, and conversely, it is an object to provide for the closing of the oil outlet valve in event of shortage of oil in the apparatus without closing the gas outlet valve.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in' the following specification of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, parts of the same being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation and vertical central section in a plane at right angles tothe plane of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is'a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the outlet valve rod bushing.

Fig. 5 is a Adetail sectional view ofthe telescopic valve rod joint.

' Fig. 6 is a sectional detail ofthe gas scrubhing ring.

The apparatus, as shown in the present embodiment, includes a substantial exterior shell 2 which, in the present case, is shown as cylindrical, although it may be of other form in cross section. The shell is provided with a headA 3 and a bottom 4 and as may be y desired at several locations, the shell is provided with handholes 5 to provide for convenient access to the interior of the apparatus.

Leading from the upper portion of the shell is a gas outlet pi e 6 in which is provided a suitable valve? controllin the discharge of gas. This valve is provlded with a stem 8 connected to a lever 9 which in turn is attached to' a gas valve operating rod 10 passing through a bushing 11 in the head 3.

The lower portion of the shell 2 is provided with an oil outlet pipe 12 having a suitable valve 13 provided with a stem 14, and this is connected tol a lever 15. The opposite end of this lever is secured to an oil valve rod 16 passing through a bushing 17 in the bottom 4 of the shell.

A feature of the invention consists of a construction whereby the two valves 7 and 13 may be concurrently maintained in open` discharging position, and further consists of means for automatically restoring the valves to the open position. To that end-I provide spring devices connected to the respective valve elements so 'as to hold the valves open,

and the devices are here shown as leaf springs 18 and 19 which maybe suitably secured as to the shell 2, and each is shown as engaging a respective lever 9 and lever 15. These springs are operative to automatically bring the valves 7 and 14 to open position when the parts of the apparatus are in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Means are provided for automatically closing either of the valves without disturbing the other, and such means includes a push rod 2O which is alined with the valve rods 10-16 and means are provided for a1- lowing playlongitudinally of the push rod and to provide forthe alternate engagement of the push'rod with the contiguous parts of the valve rods 10 and 16. For this purpose telescopic connections are provided between the push rod 20 and the valve rods, and these connections may consist of sleeves 21 attached either to theends of the push rodv or to the adjacent ends of the valve rods 10 and 16; the action being the same in either case.l

. 1 Oil well product is led to the apparatus through one or more supply connections or pipes 23 which arg attached preferably mediately between the top and bottom of the shell. Means are provided for preventing the flow of the well product Adownwardly into'the bottom of the trap shell 2 until after the product has been divided so as to separate out water and sand. In other words, means are provided to prevent the descent of the oil of the well product to the bottom of the trap until it has been treated or depleted of the sand and water and the gas has been substantially separated from the oil. This is accomplished by arranging as here shown, concentrically within the shell 2, an inner wall 24 shown as cylindrical and extending upwardly toward the top of the shell and being suitably fastened therein.I The upper portion of the inner wall 24 is shown as perforated at 25, the lower portion being imperforate. A bottom is provided for the concentric space between the inner surface of the shell 2 and the outer surface of the inner wall 24 and this bottom prevents the direct passage of the well product downwardly froml the supply pipes 23 which, in the present case, are shown as attached at diametrically opposite sides of the shell.

A feature of the invention is to provide for the separation of the water and sand and the gas before the oil passes to the bottom of the shell, and this is accomplished by .providing means for the collection of the water and sand as'it enters the shell 2 and before the oil passes throughthe perforated inner wall 24 and thence to the bottom of the shell. Therefore, the bottom just mentioned for the concentric space about the wall 24 is provided with downwardly convergent portions forming a V-shaped pocket or pockets. The bottom may conveniently be formed as of channel iron 26 secured around the lower portion of the wall 24, the channel iron being bent or formed with downwardly convergent yportions 27, Fig. 1. The bottom 26 may have as many of the downwardly convergent portions as desired, in the present case there being il-shaped" pockets formed on diametrically o posite sides of the wall 24. This wall may e cut away on its lower end so as to conform to the peripheral outline of the connection therewith of the pocket forming bottom 26.l As oil product is supplied to the shell 2, the oil accumulates between the shell and the wall 24 and in the pockets terasse formed by the bottom 26 andI rises in the collecting chamber untilit reaches the perforations 25 when the oil begins to pass in through the perforations and down to the bottom of the shell, from which it may flow through the oil outlet 12 as controlled by the valve 13.

Means are provided for draining 0E such water and sand as mayv accumulate in the bottom of the pockets in the collecting space, and therefore `drain pipe or pipes 28 are attached to theshell contiguous to the bottom of the collecting pockets about the wall 24, and through which pipes the collected sand and water may constantly flow. The drain pipes 28 are provided with control valves 29.

The roduct from the. well may consist of a mixture of oil, gas, sand and water and the heavier latter constituents collect in the separating pockets and drain out through the pipes 28 while the oil rises and passes through the wall 24 and descends to the bottom of the trap where, as the level of the oil rises, it becomes effective upon a .i

valve actuating means. rlFhis means consists of a float 30 slidably mounted and guided upon the push rod 20 so that as the oil accumulates to a predetermined high point, as is regulated by an adjustable collar 31 on the push rod 20, the float engages said collar and shifts the push rod upwardly so that the parts become operative on the contiguous socket joint 21 of the gas outlet valve rod 10. This valve rod then serves to rock the lever 9 and close the gas outlet valve 7 without adecting the open oil outlet valve 13. As the gas outlet is restricted, gas gradually accumulates in the top of the chamber and reacting upon the oil forces it with accelerated flow through the open oil outlet. As the oil level falls so that the tappet collar 31 releases the gas valve rod 10, the spring 18 thereof" automatically opens the gas outlet valve and the gas then continues to flow from the chamber while oil likewise flows from the oil outlet.

Should the oil fall below a predetermined low level, means are provided to close the oil outlet valve 12 to prevent the blowing out of the gas therethrough. Such means includes a lower tappet collar 32 adjustably secured on the push rod 2O below the float 30.` As the oil level reaches the low point, the loat 30 engages the tappet collar 32 and this causes the downward movement of the push rod 2O and overcomes the spring 19 so that the discharge valve rod 16 is actuated to close the oil outlet valve 13 or to restrict the flow of oil therethrough. After the restriction of the discharge, the oil supply is replenished in the shell 2 and the float is'lifted again so that the spring 19 automatically opens the oil outlet valve 13 and normal operation is resumed during diaphragm may which the float 30 will rise or-all with variations of oil level according to supply conditions.

It is desirable that means be provided for scrubbing the ascending gas so as to recover as much as possible vof the vaporous constituents and return the same to the oil trap, and this is accomplished by arranging a pervious barrier in the ath of the ascend lng vapors and gas. uch a barrier may consist of a layer of granular material such as coke which may be sup rted upon a perforated shelf or rim 36 w ich further has the function of connecting the u per end of the Wall 24 to the shell 2. A ove the first separating or scrubbing layer 35, there is a horizontal partition of anular material, such as coke or other esirable substance 3i', extending as a diaphragm entirely across the upper rtion of the shell. This e supported on a perfo rated or foraminous basin 38 of downwardly concaved form so as to facilitate draining of the collected liquid centrally of the apparatus and therefore dischar :H to the interior of the separating chamer.

Further embodiments, modifications and changes may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention as here claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. In an apparatus for separating liquids from gas, the combination of a shell having an inlet port for well product to be treated, outlet means for oil, separate outlet mea-ns for lheavier constituents such as sand and water in the product, an outlet for the gas in the product, and independent self-opening valves exterior. of the shell for controlling the oil outlet and the gas outlet, and means Lll) in the shell for automaticallyk closing the valves.

2. In an apparatus for separating liquids from gas, the combination of a shell haviicg an inlet port for well product to be treat outlet means for oil, separate outlet means for heavier constituents such as sand and water in the product, an outlet for the gas in the, product, -independent self-opemng' valves controlling the oil outlet and the gas outlet, and means automatically o eratlve by variations of the level of oil in't eshell for closing either the oil outlet valve or the gas outlet valve independently of the other.

3. In an apparatus for separating liquids from. gas, the combination of a shell having an inlet port for well product to be treated, outlet means for oil, separate outlet means for heavier constituents such as sand and water in the product, an outlet for the gas in theproduct, self-opening valves controlling the oil outlet and the outlet, and an inner wall s acedffrom t e shell and forming therewit a product receiving preliminary settling chamber, the bottom of which is provided with settling zones for sand and water in the product and into which the sand and water settles from the oil before the oil passes to the bottom of the shell.

4. An apparatus for separating well product comprising, in combination, an outer shell and an'inner Wall formin therewith a preliminary settling space having a bottom disposed above the bottom of the shell; the inner wall providing for the passage of the oil at a point above the settling space, to the bottom ofthe shell, an outlet for oil at the lower portion of the shell, an outlet for gas at the upper portion of the shell, and means for draining away Water and sand collecting in the settling space.

An apparatus for separating well prod uct comprising, in combination, an outer shell and an inner Wall formin therewith a preliminary settling space having a bottom disposed above the bottom of the shell; the inner Wall providing for the passage of the oil 'at a point above the settling space, to the bottom of the shell, an outlet for oil at the lower portion of the shell, an outlet for as at the upper portion of the shell, means or' draining away wa-ter and sand collecting in the settling space, and self-opening valves in t-lie oil and gas outlets.

6. An apparatus for separating well product comprising, in combination, an outer shell and an inner wall forming therewith a preliminary settling space having a bottom disposed above the bottom of the shell; the inner wall providing for the passage of the oil at a point above the settling space, to the bottom of the shell, an outlet for oil at the lower portion of the shell, an outlet for gas at the upper portion of the shell, means for draining away water and sand collecting in the settling space, self-opening valves in the oil and gas outlets, and means for automaticallyclosing the open gas valve as oil level rises in the shell and for automatically closing the oil outlet valve as the oil falls to a redetermined de ree in the shell.

. An apparatus or separating well prod- .uct comprising, in combination, an outer shell and an inner wall forming therewith a preliminary settling space having a bottom disposed above the bot-tom of the shell; the

inner wall providing for the passage of the oil at a point above the settling space, to the bottom of the shell, an outlet for ,oil at the lower portion oi the shell, an outlet for gas at the lupper portion of the shell, means for draining' away water and sand collecting in the settling space, self-opening valves in the oil and gas outlets, and means for automatirises in the shell and for automatically closing the oil outlet valve as the oil falls to a predetermined degree in the shell, the automatic means operating one of the valves without concurrent action of the other.

. 8. An apparatus for separating well prodycally closing the open gas valve as oil level uct comprising, in combination, a receivin shell into which the product is fed, an o1 outlet vfor the shell, a gas outlet, normally open valves in each of said outlets, means normally tending to keep the valves open, and automatically acting means o erative in an ascending movement to close t e gas outlet valve and in a descending movement lto close the oil outlet Valve.

9. An apparatus for separating Well prod uct comprising, in combination, a receivin shell into which the product is led, an o' outlet for the shell, a as outlet, normally open valves in each oi said outlets, said valves being independent, and automatically acting means operative in an ascendin movement to close the gas outlet valve an in4 a descending movement to close the oil outlet valve, said means actuating.. either valve independently of the other.

10. An apparatus `for separating well product comprising, ceiving shell intovvhich the product is fed, an oil outlet'for the shell, a gas outlet, nor- 5 mally o ven valves in each of said outlets,

saidva ves being independent, automatically acting means operative in an ascending movement to close the gas outlet valve and in a descending movement to close the oil outlet valve, said means actuating either valve independently of the other, an means operative to normally maintain the valves in open position.

11. An apparatus for separating sand, Water, oil and gas in `vvell products compris ing, in combination, a receiving shell, an inner Wall spaced from the shell to provide a preliminary settling space thereabout, said in combination, a respaanse inner Wall being fperlorateiil and providing for the passage o oil to the bottom of the shell after the Water and oil have settled in the settling space, oil and as outlets, and means for draining away t e settled Water and sand.

12. ln an apparatus for continuously and automatically separating constituents in oil well product, said apparatus comprising a receiving shell, a sett-lin chamber in said shell wherein Water and sand may settle out of the vvell product, an'oil receiving compartment having an oil outlet, gas outlet means at the head lof the shell, outlet valves for the gas and oil outlets, the said valves being arranged exterior ol the shell, and means within the shell and including valve actuating rods passing through the top and bottom ends of the shell, and an actuator movable in the shell and adapted to operate said rods independently.

13. An apparatus lor separating Well product comprising, in combination, a receiving shell into which the product is fed, an oil outlet for the shell, a gas outlet, normally open valves in each of said outlets,` said valves being independent, automatically acting means operative in an ascending movement to close the gas outlet valve and in a descending movement to close the oil outlet valve, said means actuating either valve independently of the other, and means for normally maintaining the valves in open position.

lln testimony *whereof ll have signed my name to this specification.,

BERTRAM NlEllliL. 

